| The Common Misconception: Auto auctions are only | | | | that have onyour wallet? |
| open tocar dealers. | | | | Amazingly enough, auto auctions are not solely |
| The Surprising Truth: Anyone with the right resources | | | | restrictedto car dealers. Up until a few years ago, I |
| canparticipate in the same auctions as the dealers! | | | | too sharedthis common misconception. |
| Think about it. How much could you save if you | | | | It was only by sheer luck that I stumbled upon a |
| bypassedthe dealers and purchased directly from | | | | websitethat allowed me to search local auctions by |
| their sources? | | | | zip code andvehicle make that I learned the surprising |
| 30%, 50%, maybe even 75%. | | | | truth. I waspaying dealers thosands of dollars in |
| As unbelievable as this sounds, it is possible with alittle | | | | unnecessarymark-ups. |
| patience and research. | | | | I tried the website's search feature out, and to |
| As you probably already know from past experience, | | | | mysurprise the cars listed were exactly what I |
| cardealers will do ANYTHING to get you into the car | | | | wanted. Onlya few years old with very low miles. |
| of yourdreams. Whether you can afford it or not! | | | | Many of them werestill under the manufacturer's |
| I can recall a former coworker who got into a new | | | | original warranty! Thismade sense of course, since |
| luxuryvehicle with a little "creative financing." The | | | | most of them wererepossessions. |
| managerdivided his mortgage payment in two. His | | | | The auction house was even willing to throw in a |
| justification: | | | | vehiclehistory report at no extra cost and a 3 month |
| As a married man his wife was responsible for the | | | | warranty. |
| otherhalf of the mortgage....even though she was a | | | | Sure I wouldn't get the complimentary car washes |
| stay at homemom! Luckily for them, they found a | | | | and oilchanges the dealer throws in, but that surely |
| way to pay their hugecar payment and avoid | | | | wasn't worththousands of dollars in premiums. |
| repossession. | | | | After a little hesitation I joined the auto |
| Unfortunately, others aren't quite as lucky. Thousands | | | | auctionmembership site. They helped me locate auto |
| ofpeople default on their loans everyday simply | | | | auctions in myarea, and gain admission to them |
| because theycouldn't really afford it in the first place. | | | | through their exclusiveaccess rights. I learned what |
| This can work to your advantage. The banks and | | | | questions to ask, and how tohandle the bidding |
| financialinstitutions that serviced the loans want to | | | | process. |
| recoup theirloss as quicly as possible. Add to that the | | | | It was a lot simpler then I ever imagined it could be. |
| exhorbitantcost of storing these vehicles, and you | | | | The day of the auction, I showed up a few hours |
| can easily see whythe banks want to dispose of | | | | early toinspect the vehicle I was interested in and |
| them in a timely manner. | | | | get a feel forthe place. |
| After all, the longer financial institutions have to | | | | It must have been a slow day, because when my |
| storethese vehicles, the less money they're going to | | | | car came upfor auction only a few dealers were |
| get back. | | | | bidding against me. |
| Auto auctions are the quickest way for banks to | | | | Since I wasn't buying the vehicle for resale, I |
| ridthemselves of repossessed vehicles. | | | | succeededin outbidding the dealers! |
| Car dealers know this, and they go to great lenghts | | | | It was a truely empowering experience. I got the |
| toprotect this knowledge from the general public. | | | | vehicleof my dreams, and I only paid a little over half |
| After all,auto auctions are a huge source of revenue. | | | | its bookvalue! |
| Dealers canpurchase vehicles at a fraction of their | | | | What did this experience teach me? Auto Auctions |
| value, and thenresell them at a huge mark-up. | | | | can saveyou thousands in unnecessary dealer |
| But what if you could avoid the dealer's mark-up | | | | mark-ups. |
| andinstead pay what they pay? What impact would | | | | |